TEMPE – The No. 14/14 Arizona State ice hockey team welcomes Alaska Anchorage to Tempe this weekend for their third-straight home series at Mullett Arena. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. MST on Friday and 1 p.m. MST on Sunday. Fans can watch the free ASU Live Stream or listen on Fox Sports 910, the home of Sun Devil Hockey.
The Sun Devils (7-2-1) and the Seawolves (5-6-1) will face off in their fifth all-time series. ASU currently holds a 5-2-0 all-time record against UAA. Last season the two teams met twice in a home-and-home series. ASU completed the sweep at home in the November matchup and split the March series in Anchorage. ASU will travel to Anchorage in March 2024 to round out another four-game home-and-home series.
ASU hosted then-No. 2 Denver this past weekend where the Sun Devils took one out of two in the series. ASU's resiliency on Friday night led them to a 6-5 win in overtime to complete the top-ranked upset. Captain Tyler Gratton was able to find the back of the net with two minutes remaining in extra time. The win broke the Pioneers six-game winning streak against the Sun Devils that dated back to Dec. 6, 2019.
SUN DEVIL NOTABLES
ASU ranks in the top-20 of three statistical team categories including goals per game, shots percentage, and power play. The Sun Devils 3.6 goals per game is tied at ninth in the NCAA while their 27.7 percent success rate on the power play owns the number eight spot in the country. ASU boasts a 10.9 shots percentage which ranks 17th. On the opposite bench, the Seawolves rank 30th and above in all statistical categories, including goals against average, penalty kill, goals per game, and power play.
POWERED UP POWER PLAY
The Sun Devils boast a 27.7 power play percentage through the first ten games, which ranks eighth among all NCAA Division I teams. ASU's 13 power play goals is tied at third in the country. Lukas Sillinger leads the power play scoring for the Sun Devils with eight points from two goals and four assists. Skaters Matthew Kopperud (4G, 2A) and Charlie Schoen (1G, 5A) are tied at second with six each. Kopperud is the go-to goal scorer on the man-advantage with four PPG so far this season. He tallied his 28th power play goal of his career against then-No. 2 Denver to further extend his record-setting PPG.
RANKED DEVILS
ASU continues its fifth-straight week in the national polls. Last week, ASU came in at No. 16 and No. 17 in the USCHO.com and USA Hockey/The Rink Live, respectively. Following the series sweep of Stonehill at home, ASU held strong at No. 16 in the USCHO.com Poll and moved up two spots to No. 17 in the USA Hockey Poll. After splitting the series against then-No. 2 Denver last weekend at Mullett Arena, the Sun Devils jumped up two spots to land at No. 14 in both polls. The highest national poll ranking ever received by the Sun Devils was No. 9 on Feb. 17, 2020 in the 2019-20 season.
FIRST LINE DOMINANCE
The first line proved to be a dominant force last weekend against No. 2 Denver. Lukas Sillinger, Ty Jackson and Dylan Jackson combined for nine total points in Friday night's overtime win against the Pioneers, including Dylan Jackson's second career hat trick. Sillinger tallied a goal and two assists, his fifth three-point game of the year. Ty Jackson collected the game opening goal and an assist. Sillinger also logged two points the following night with a goal and an assist while Ty Jackson added another assist. Sillinger currently leads the team in points this season at 12 through five goals and seven assists.
DENVER'S OFFENSIVE NIGHTMARE
Between both games against No. 2 Denver, the Sun Devils scored a combined 10 goals. The last time that DU allowed an opponent to score 10 goals against them in a series was versus Western Michigan in November 2017. The feat of 10 goals scored on the Pioneers has never been accomplished by a team in the David Carle head coaching era. ASU scored six goals on Friday and four goals on Saturday against the Pioneers last weekend.
KRAZY FOR KOPPERUD
The long-awaited return of Matthew Kopperud is finally upon Sun Devil Hockey. The senior leads the country in game-winning goals with four. His hot start and seven career game-winning goals has boosted him to just one shy of Johnny Walker's record for most career GWG with eight. On Saturday night against Northern Michigan, Kopperud scored his 26th career power play goal to break the ASU record also set by ASU alum Johnny Walker (2017-22) at 25. His fifth goal this season, scored on Saturday night against Stonehill, became his 80 career point (46G, 34A). The Colorado native finished the weekend against No. 2 Denver with a two-point Saturday night (1G, 1A), including his 28th career PPG to further extend his record-setting 28 career PPG.
HISTORY VS. SEAWOLVES (5-2-0)
March 4, 2023: L, 3-4 (away)
March 3, 2023: W, 5-0 (away)
Nov. 12, 2022: W, 3-0 (home)
Nov. 11, 2022: W, 5-2 (home)
Feb. 15, 2020: W, 5-2 (home)
Feb. 14, 2020: W, 5-0 (home)
Oct. 9, 2015: L, 2-3 (away)
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
Senior Forward Matthew Kopperud
On the biggest takeaways from the Denver series:
"I think it showed our group that we can compete with anybody. Friday night, I think we got away with a win, but I think we could have been better. And then I think Saturday, we were definitely a better hockey team than we were Friday night. I think we gave up too many. We gave up chances that cost us and we were up 3-0 and then we blew it again, sort of like how we did against Miami, but that shows that we can get up against good teams. Now, we just have to figure out how to maintain the lead."
On focusing on Anchorage versus worrying about Providence:
"I think we have to just focus on Anchorage. I don't think we can even look forward to Providence in two weeks. I think we have a game Friday night at seven and then Sunday at one that we have to focus on and not look forward against a ranked opponent. And Alaska is a good team, they've beaten Penn State so they know how to play. So we're still in for a couple of good games this weekend as well."
Freshman Defenseman Anthony Dowd
On the upcoming series versus Anchorage:
"Alaska, they're a good team, they beat Penn State, they beat Lowell. So, they've played some good teams, they've won and they're a hard team to play. They just play hard, they play physical and that's not who we play this weekend. So it was different, but we got to be ready for it. So, you know, not looking too far ahead to the Providence weekend, kind of just looking at Friday before Saturday and just looking into it as we play our game, we'll be good."
On the power play:
"I felt good. It's obviously nice to get more playing time. Switched up the power plays a little bit, two totally even units that can both score, which was awesome. Like the other unit of Sillinger's line, it was amazing. They scored, I don't even know how many goals, but a ton they were unreal this weekend. So that was amazing. But yeah, getting more time on the power play felt great. And, just gives me more confidence in my game."
The Sun Devils (7-2-1) and the Seawolves (5-6-1) will face off in their fifth all-time series. ASU currently holds a 5-2-0 all-time record against UAA. Last season the two teams met twice in a home-and-home series. ASU completed the sweep at home in the November matchup and split the March series in Anchorage. ASU will travel to Anchorage in March 2024 to round out another four-game home-and-home series.
ASU hosted then-No. 2 Denver this past weekend where the Sun Devils took one out of two in the series. ASU's resiliency on Friday night led them to a 6-5 win in overtime to complete the top-ranked upset. Captain Tyler Gratton was able to find the back of the net with two minutes remaining in extra time. The win broke the Pioneers six-game winning streak against the Sun Devils that dated back to Dec. 6, 2019.
SUN DEVIL NOTABLES
- ASU scored two power play goals on Saturday night versus then-No. 2 Denver by Lukas Sillinger and Matthew Kopperud. The last time ASU scored two power play goals in a single game was versus then-No. 15 Merrimack on Oct. 14, 2023. In that game, the two power play goal scorers were also Sillinger and Kopperud.
- ASU tallied six goals on Friday night versus then-No. 2 Denver for the most goals scored in a game by ASU this season on Nov. 10, 2023
- ASU put up its fewest shots on goal in a game in 6-5 OT win (25) vs. Denver
- Captain and left winger Tyler Gratton is on a four-game goal scoring streak
- The last time that Denver allowed an opponent to score 10 goals against them in a two-game series was against Western Michigan in Nov. 2017. They have never allowed it in the David Carle era
ASU ranks in the top-20 of three statistical team categories including goals per game, shots percentage, and power play. The Sun Devils 3.6 goals per game is tied at ninth in the NCAA while their 27.7 percent success rate on the power play owns the number eight spot in the country. ASU boasts a 10.9 shots percentage which ranks 17th. On the opposite bench, the Seawolves rank 30th and above in all statistical categories, including goals against average, penalty kill, goals per game, and power play.
| Sun Devils | Seawolves | |
| 3.6 (T9th) | Goals Per Game | 2.6 (T45th) |
| 3.0 (T34th) | Goals Against Average | 3.2 (T38th) |
| 10.9 (17th) | Shots Percentage | 8.8 (48th) |
| 27.7% (8th) | Power Play | 17.9% (39th) |
| 78.4% (T39th) | Penalty Kill | 76.9% (T43rd) |
| 49.8 (T38th) | Faceoff Percentage | 50.7 (30th) |
POWERED UP POWER PLAY
The Sun Devils boast a 27.7 power play percentage through the first ten games, which ranks eighth among all NCAA Division I teams. ASU's 13 power play goals is tied at third in the country. Lukas Sillinger leads the power play scoring for the Sun Devils with eight points from two goals and four assists. Skaters Matthew Kopperud (4G, 2A) and Charlie Schoen (1G, 5A) are tied at second with six each. Kopperud is the go-to goal scorer on the man-advantage with four PPG so far this season. He tallied his 28th power play goal of his career against then-No. 2 Denver to further extend his record-setting PPG.
RANKED DEVILS
ASU continues its fifth-straight week in the national polls. Last week, ASU came in at No. 16 and No. 17 in the USCHO.com and USA Hockey/The Rink Live, respectively. Following the series sweep of Stonehill at home, ASU held strong at No. 16 in the USCHO.com Poll and moved up two spots to No. 17 in the USA Hockey Poll. After splitting the series against then-No. 2 Denver last weekend at Mullett Arena, the Sun Devils jumped up two spots to land at No. 14 in both polls. The highest national poll ranking ever received by the Sun Devils was No. 9 on Feb. 17, 2020 in the 2019-20 season.
FIRST LINE DOMINANCE
The first line proved to be a dominant force last weekend against No. 2 Denver. Lukas Sillinger, Ty Jackson and Dylan Jackson combined for nine total points in Friday night's overtime win against the Pioneers, including Dylan Jackson's second career hat trick. Sillinger tallied a goal and two assists, his fifth three-point game of the year. Ty Jackson collected the game opening goal and an assist. Sillinger also logged two points the following night with a goal and an assist while Ty Jackson added another assist. Sillinger currently leads the team in points this season at 12 through five goals and seven assists.
DENVER'S OFFENSIVE NIGHTMARE
Between both games against No. 2 Denver, the Sun Devils scored a combined 10 goals. The last time that DU allowed an opponent to score 10 goals against them in a series was versus Western Michigan in November 2017. The feat of 10 goals scored on the Pioneers has never been accomplished by a team in the David Carle head coaching era. ASU scored six goals on Friday and four goals on Saturday against the Pioneers last weekend.
KRAZY FOR KOPPERUD
The long-awaited return of Matthew Kopperud is finally upon Sun Devil Hockey. The senior leads the country in game-winning goals with four. His hot start and seven career game-winning goals has boosted him to just one shy of Johnny Walker's record for most career GWG with eight. On Saturday night against Northern Michigan, Kopperud scored his 26th career power play goal to break the ASU record also set by ASU alum Johnny Walker (2017-22) at 25. His fifth goal this season, scored on Saturday night against Stonehill, became his 80 career point (46G, 34A). The Colorado native finished the weekend against No. 2 Denver with a two-point Saturday night (1G, 1A), including his 28th career PPG to further extend his record-setting 28 career PPG.
HISTORY VS. SEAWOLVES (5-2-0)
March 4, 2023: L, 3-4 (away)
March 3, 2023: W, 5-0 (away)
Nov. 12, 2022: W, 3-0 (home)
Nov. 11, 2022: W, 5-2 (home)
Feb. 15, 2020: W, 5-2 (home)
Feb. 14, 2020: W, 5-0 (home)
Oct. 9, 2015: L, 2-3 (away)
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
Senior Forward Matthew Kopperud
On the biggest takeaways from the Denver series:
"I think it showed our group that we can compete with anybody. Friday night, I think we got away with a win, but I think we could have been better. And then I think Saturday, we were definitely a better hockey team than we were Friday night. I think we gave up too many. We gave up chances that cost us and we were up 3-0 and then we blew it again, sort of like how we did against Miami, but that shows that we can get up against good teams. Now, we just have to figure out how to maintain the lead."
On focusing on Anchorage versus worrying about Providence:
"I think we have to just focus on Anchorage. I don't think we can even look forward to Providence in two weeks. I think we have a game Friday night at seven and then Sunday at one that we have to focus on and not look forward against a ranked opponent. And Alaska is a good team, they've beaten Penn State so they know how to play. So we're still in for a couple of good games this weekend as well."
Freshman Defenseman Anthony Dowd
On the upcoming series versus Anchorage:
"Alaska, they're a good team, they beat Penn State, they beat Lowell. So, they've played some good teams, they've won and they're a hard team to play. They just play hard, they play physical and that's not who we play this weekend. So it was different, but we got to be ready for it. So, you know, not looking too far ahead to the Providence weekend, kind of just looking at Friday before Saturday and just looking into it as we play our game, we'll be good."
On the power play:
"I felt good. It's obviously nice to get more playing time. Switched up the power plays a little bit, two totally even units that can both score, which was awesome. Like the other unit of Sillinger's line, it was amazing. They scored, I don't even know how many goals, but a ton they were unreal this weekend. So that was amazing. But yeah, getting more time on the power play felt great. And, just gives me more confidence in my game."